Sugar can explode?

[hool10]

So this happened this week: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23059948/
Terrible tragedy that happened. I was shocked that sugar can explode though. I'm tempted to see if it will actually explode. They say you need a dime size of sugar dust to make it explode. Maybe grind a pinch of it into dust then KABLAM! I don't have a personality like the TF2 demoman but I'm just tempted by this like Mentos+Diet Coke experiment. So, how does sugar explode and how do you get it to explode?

 

[Acepilotf14]

If you burn sugar, it melts.
That's it.
Mentos-Diet Coke is just carbonation, nothing really to do with the sugar. I think.

 

[Beerdude26]

Because there is a maximal area of interaction for the heat and the fuel source, something simple like wood dust can instantly ignite and explode (because the reaction can occur so quickly)

Here's a link : http://www.scif.com/safety/safetymeeting/Article.asp?ArticleID=125

Safety Hazards
Concentrations of small dust particles in the air can form a mixture that will explode if ignited. This type of situation may occur in dust collection equipment. Wood dust will also burn easily if ignited. Overheated motors or sparks can start wood dust fires.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Flour also does it.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[NeptuneUK]

Most things combustable that can be powdered will go bang to some extent.

 

[hool10]

Ahh ok. I thought it was some chemical reaction or something.

 

[Beerdude26]

Ahh ok. I thought it was some chemical reaction or something.

Well it is a chemical reaction, just not a "substitute A for B" reaction

 

[Glirk Dient]

The plant didn't explode from sugar. The article says

Volatile dust was blamed Friday in an explosion that leveled a sugar refinery

That's the very first sentence too.

 

[Dan]

that volatile dust was probably sugar

 

[Anthraxxx]

Sweet!

/going to hell

 

[Social Bacon]

You can make a pipe bomb out of potassium chlorate and sugar. Very simple, very big boom.

 

[Raziaar]

Flour also does it.

-Angry Lawyer

Flour, corn even.

Corn has to be temperature regulated or it will produce so much heat the gigantic silos they store it in will explode. There have been people killed in corn silo explosions.

Grains of all types are notorious for having the potential to explode if not managed properly.

 

[Acepilotf14]

That was definitely sigged.

 

[Raziaar]

lol what? why?

 

[Acepilotf14]

It was just so hilarious.
It's true, likely, but it's just so wacky!
EXPLODING CORN!

 

[Raziaar]

It was just so hilarious.
It's true, likely, but it's just so wacky!
EXPLODING CORN!

Yeah, it is wacky. But lots and lots and LOTS of money is spent managing silos to make sure these things don't happen.

I've already known a lot of it from the past, but I looked at wikipedia and it has some info.

Safety and silo cleaning

Silos are hazardous, and people die every year in the process of filling and maintaining them. The machinery used is dangerous and with tower silos workers can fall from the silo's ladder or work platform.

There have also been many cases of silos exploding. If the air inside becomes laden with finely granulated particles, such as grain dust, a spark can trigger an explosion powerful enough to blow a concrete silo apart.

There are two main problems which will necessitate cleaning. Bridging occurs when the material consolidates at the base of the silo. Rat holing occurs when the material starts to adhere to the side of the silo. This will reduce the operating capacity of a silo as well as leading to cross-contamination of newer material with older material. There are a number of ways to clean a silo and many of these carry their own risks. However since the early 1990s acoustic cleaners have become available. These are non-invasive, have minimum risk, and can offer a very cost-effective way to keep a silo clean.[citation needed] It can also be called silage wrap.

 

[Acepilotf14]

Wacky.

 

[yakuruto]

Yup, it all depends on the particle size and concentration of flammable dust. The reactions occurs because every dust particle requires very little energy to be ignited and, in the "correct" conditions, as soon as the first particle goes kaboom it starts a chain reaction. It's the same with any other fuel, the only difference is that we usually don't see wood or corn as potential explosives because in our everyday life the conditions needed for them to explode are very seldom seen (except for those who actually work near/at silos)

 

[Que-Ever]

Sweet!

/going to hell

diet pepsi came out of my nose, because I was laughing and drinking diet pepsi at the same time when I happened to "get it".

 

[Druckles]

Ah shit, sweet jokes have been had already D:

/me canes Anthraxxx

 

[Raziaar]

Let's not sugar-coat it... Sugar is as ****ing deadly as a bag of bullets with the same weight.